By Reily Goyne, AIA Kansas Advocacy Manager
General Statehouse Update
Happy Birthday Kansas! Kansas Day was celebrated Wednesday, January 29th, the day Kansas was admitted to the United States of America in 1861. Several communities around the state had festivities honoring Kansas history. The Statehouse celebrated by unveiling a new art installation, the first since the Brown v Board mural in 2018. The painting, titled Rebel Women, celebrates Kansas suffragists and is the first piece of art in the Kansas Capitol done by a woman. The next time you’re in the Capitol, make sure to stop on the first floor by the cage elevator to see the new art.
Property taxes still center stage
The work to lower property taxes continues in both chambers. The Senate passed two measures to reduce property taxes.
The first is SB 10, exempting personal watercraft, aircraft, and motorized mobility aids from property tax. This was requested by county appraisers because the cost of finding, assessing, and collecting property taxes on these things is often higher than the tax revenue collected.
The second is SB 35, which eliminates a 1.5 mill tax levy to fund the Educational Building Fund and State Institutions Building Fund and backfills it using the State General Fund. Both measures easily passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
Meanwhile, the House Taxation Committee advanced a bill - HB 2011 - which cuts 1.5 mills from the 20 mill levy for school funding and backfills the lost property tax revenue using State General Fund. It also increases the residential exemption from $75,000 to $100,000.
Fast-track Permitting Bill
Issues with permitting timelines and delays were presented this past summer at the 2024 Special Committee on Available and Affordable Housing. This Monday, HB 2088 was introduced in an attempt to solve these problems and a bill hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
This bill fast-tracks all permitting in all local governments for all development types - single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial.
AIA Kansas's Government Affairs Committee is reviewing the legislation and determining the association's response.
The bill's proponents are Americans For Prosperity, Opportunity Solutions Project, the Pacific Legal Foundation, and the Kansas Chamber. Their arguments focused on the need to quickly build housing, which all communities need, and the benefits of a uniform state law.
However, the opponents were representatives from several cities and counties, the League of Kansas Municipalities, and the Kansas Association of Counties. Concerns were centered around the question of home rule and requiring all permits for all types of development to be addressed within 60 days.
If you would like to be contacted by AIA Kansas to provide expertise on legislation, email Reily Goyne at reily@aiaks.org.
Next Week's Committees
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Thursday, February 6, 2025
1:30 PM - House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development: HB 2119 Hearing
If you want to testify on any of these bills and would like assistance, please contact Reily Goyne at reily@aiaks.org or 316-243-6256.
Bills to Watch
AIA Kansas monitors several bills throughout the session that could impact the design and construction industry.
SB 35 discontinues the state property tax levies for the Kansas educational building fund and the state institutions building fund finances it through the state general fund. It was passed by the Senate, introduced in the House, and now sits in House Taxation. No hearing has been scheduled yet.
SB 37 repeals cities' zoning authority for the three miles outside their borders. It had a hearing in Senate Local Government, Transparency, and Ethics on Thursday, January 30.
SB 77 requires state agencies to provide notice of revocation of administrative rules and regulations to the public. It has a hearing on Wednesday, February 5 in the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency at 9:30 AM.
HB 2025 repeals cities' zoning authority for the three miles outside their borders. It had a hearing in House Local Government on Wednesday, January 29.
HB 2066 requires businesses to register and use e-verify for employment. It has been referred to House Federal and State Affairs, and no hearing has been set yet.
HB 2088 requires local governments to meet deadlines for issuing building permits and other approvals for real estate development. It had a hearing in House Local Government on Thursday, January 30.
HB 2099 permits periodic inspections by a city or county for code violations of private residential rental housing where the property owner is receiving governmental rental subsidies and has a hearing on Wednesday, February 5 at 9 AM in House Local Government.
HB 2119 eliminates the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit. It has a hearing in House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development on Thursday, February 6 at 1:30 PM.
HB 2138 authorizes school districts to levy an annual tax levy of up to two mills for school building safety, security and compliance with the Americans with disabilities act. It has been referred to House Education and no hearing has been set yet.
Government Affairs Committee
February 21 at 10 AM
If you are interested in joining this committee and staying on top of what is happening at the statehouse, please contact Reily Goyne.
About AIA Kansas
AIA Kansas is a state chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
The organization provides services and programs to meet the professional development needs and interests of Kansas architects and to develop public awareness for the value of architects and architecture.
Our 700-plus members are leaders in building healthy, sustainable communities that will serve our citizens into the future.
www.aiaks.org | 785-357-5308 | info@aiaks.org
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